Who says clothes swap parties are just for the girls? Men can find ways to save, too.

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A few years ago, I overheard a telephone conversation between my wife, Denise, and a lady friend of hers about getting together for a "naked ladies party." I’d never heard that phrase before, and — for obvious reasons — the conversation immediately caught my attention. I nudged my wife while she was still on the phone to suggest that maybe we could host it at our house and I could even do the cooking.

Denise later explained to me that "naked ladies parties" are gatherings where like-sized girlfriends get together for the evening and swap clothes and accessories that they no longer wear. I applaud my wife and other women for getting the most out of their wardrobes by swapping clothing rather than throwing it away and buying new. In fact, I admit that ever since Denise became a regular on the local clothes-swapping circuit, I’ve felt a little envious that my guy friends and I don’t have something comparable. Here are some manly-man ways I thought of that can help you save money and bond with your buddies at the same time:

Meat of the Month Club: One of my old offices was next door to a Costco, giving my co-workers an idea for starting a Meat and Cheese of the Month Club. We shared a single club membership (the cost of which we split each year) and once a month we would buy a selection of bulk-packaged meats and cheeses and split them up — along with the cost — among participating staffers. Forming a co-op like this — regardless of gender — is a great way for single people and small families to benefit from the savings of shopping at "big box stores" without having to eat 20 pounds of pork chops all by yourself (although I could probably do it).

Tool Libraries: My friend Doug is a cheapskate to admire, having organized a neighborhood tool library way back when listserv technology was new. Neighbors list tools and equipment they’re willing to loan on a short-term basis — everything from socket wrenches to jigsaws to a pickup truck — in exchange for having access to the list and being able to request items they’d like to borrow. "The golden rule is that if you don’t return something when promised, or return it damaged and don’t make it right, you’re out," he says matter-of-factly. At close to 6 feet 5 and 240 pounds, Doug is the kind of librarian you don’t want to cross. If there isn't a tool library in your neighborhood, try starting one or check out sites such as DaveZillion.com or SwapaTool.com.

Brewing Parties: I’m not suggesting that only men love beer (although this man certainly does) or brew their own, but making beer is an activity that lends itself to a collective effort. Since you typically brew a large batch of a single variety, everybody can make a batch of their favorite brew and then you divide up the "harvest" once it’s ready to drink. My friend David and his wife, Jeannie — who’s actually the brewmaster in their marriage — are longtime members of BURP (Brewers United for Real Potables), a Washington, D.C.-area home brewers club. David said his job is mostly emptying what Jeannie and other club members brew up. "Jeannie is a proper ale wife," David told me, quickly adding that that’s anything but a sexist remark; it’s actually a title of honor given to women who were historically the brewmasters in most European households. David says that today, at least in BURP, most home brewers are men. But he’s certainly not complaining about his wife’s skill for brewing some of the best suds around. You can find a nationwide directory of local home brew clubs on the website of the American Homebrewers Association. Cheers!

Sporting Equipment: Admit it: Most guys buy a lot of sports and exercise equipment they eventually lose interest in and regret buying. A friend of mine had a creative solution. He set up "Fat Boys Gym" in a spare bay in his garage, encouraging his pals to donate equipment they no longer wanted and, in exchange, allowing them to come over whenever they like to work out with the other "fat boys." In fact, it prompted a number of guys to give up their expensive health club membership, since working out with their friends in the neighborhood proved more convenient and more fun. Of course, you can also swap or sell unwanted sports and exercise equipment online at sites such as Craigslist.org and Swap.com, and at specialized sites such as SwapMeSports.com.

We March to a Different Drummer: When it comes to saving money on entertainment, drumming circles are all the rage with a lot of guys these days. Many I’ve attended have attracted mostly males but most circles are open to everyone, and in fact some even offer women-only events. My friend Jim, who lives down in northern Kentucky, used to spend a small fortune on hunting, fishing and pro sports events to fill his free time, but now he prefers the camaraderie of sitting around a bonfire and pounding his heart out with a group of his buddies. "There’s something so primitive and so freeing about it," he says. Many drumming circles are free of charge or suggest a nominal donation if you attend, so it’s cheap manly-fun. You can look at a nationwide directory at USA Drum Circle Finder. And if you’re musically inclined but bongos and bonfires aren’t your speed, barbershop quartets are still alive and well for a little male-bonding, cheapskate style. Contact the Barbershop Harmony Society for a directory and other information.

Clothes Swap Parties, Manly-Man Style: And finally, of course it’s OK for guys to have their own clothing swap parties just like women do; I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise. But can we please not call them "naked men parties"? And to keep them more manly, can we agree to serve beer (not wine), and have plenty of spicy wings and deep-fried foods on hand? When we get together for our clothing swap parties, let's also make it a rule that you need to bring at least one piece of used sporting equipment you want to swap, as well. Just don’t ask me if those hip waders make your butt look too big.